Description
These indulgent cheesy crab cakes are packed with fresh lump crab meat and sharp cheddar cheese, served with a silky lemon butter sauce. Perfect for an appetizer or a main course!
Ingredients
For the Crab Cakes:
- 1 pound fresh lump crab meat
- 1 cup freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup golden breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup chopped green onions
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- Juice of 1 fresh lemon
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Lemon Butter Sauce:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- Juice of 1 fresh lemon
- 1 pinch garlic powder
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, gently combine crab meat, cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, eggs, green onions, parsley, mayonnaise, minced garlic, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper. Be careful not to break up the crab pieces too much.
- Form the mixture into 1/2-inch-thick patties. Place them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to firm up.
- For frying: Heat a skillet over medium heat and cook the patties for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown. For baking: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C), place the patties on a baking sheet, and bake for 15 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Whisk in lemon juice, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt until the sauce is smooth and silky.
- Drizzle the lemon butter sauce over the hot crab cakes. Serve with optional sides like coleslaw, mashed potatoes, or a citrus-dressed green salad.
Notes
- For a lighter option, bake the crab cakes rather than frying them.
- If you don’t have Old Bay seasoning, you can substitute with a mix of paprika, celery salt, and ground mustard.
- To make these crab cakes spicier, add some red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce to the mixture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish / Appetizer
- Method: Fried or Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
